Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Occupations
Governor of Massachusetts (2002-2006)
CEO of 2002 Olympic Games
CEO of Bain and Company

Websites
Campaign: http://www.mittromney.com/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney

Abortion
In 2002, Romney opposed passing any laws to restrict abortion. He took the same position in 1994. He supported Roe v Wade. In 2006, he signed a health care plan that provides government funding for abortion.

He changed his position and in 2007 says that he is pro-life. He says that he opposes Roe v Wade. He vetoed government funding for the destruction of human embryos. He vetoed a bill mandating emergency contraception.

Foreign Policy
Romney takes a hawkish stand on foreign policy. He supports the war in Iraq.

On foreign policy, Romney said he's "not a member of any school" - neo-conservative or realist - but he believes that combating Islamic jihadists will be the top priority for the next president and will require "a major, long-term effort to support the institutions of modernity in the world of Islam."

Gun Rights
In 2004, Romney signed a bill that loosened some aspects of Massachusetts gun law, while also reaffirming the state's so-called "assault weapons" ban. He made a demonstrably untrue statement in support of this ban.

“Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts... These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.”

In 2002, he attacked a bill passed by the legislature as too pro-gun. In 2003, he quadrupled the fee for a firearm identification card, which is required to own a gun or ammunition, from $25 to $100. In 1994, he criticized the National Rifle Association; in 2006 he joined the NRA and praised it.

Immigration
He opposed giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. He opposed giving drivers licences to illegals. In 2006, at the end of his term as Governor, he authorized state police to enforce immigration laws.

In 2005, he refused to take a position on the Senate immigration bill that would have allowed in more than 100 million immigrants and cost $500 billion in welfare payments within 20 years. In 2007, he opposed it. In 2006, he stated opposition to deporting illegals and suggested that they could apply for citizenship. In 2007, he opposed a "path to citizenship".

Americans for Better Immigration describes his positions as "fluid".

Marriage
Mass Resistance has an extensive analysis of Romney's record on marriage and homosexual rights.

In 2006, Romney endorsed the federal marriage amendment. In 2006, He endorsed a proposed state marriage amendment. In 2004, he opposed a different version of the amendment that would have prevented civil unions. In 2003, he advocated creating "civil unions", which are equivalent to "gay marriage" in all but name.

In 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Court issued a decision that the Massachusetts Constitution mandated "gay marriage". Romney chose to order County Clerks and Justices of the Peace to implement "gay marriage". According to some conservatives, he could have refused to implement the ruling. He defended a state law denying marriage licences to couples from other states.

As Governor, Romney generally supported "gay rights". In 1994, he opposed the Boy Scouts' position on homosexuality. One fourth of the judges he appointed as Governor were Republicans.

Regulation
In 2006, Romney advocated and signed a health care plan that imposes significant costs on business. In 2007, it became known that the plan would impose significant costs on hospitals, taxpayers, and insurance buyers. The plan was endorsed by Ted Kennedy.

In 2007, Romney called for the repeal of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. In 1994, he advocated somewhat similar regulations of campaign finance.

In 2006, Romney supported drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). As Governor, he supported environmental regulations.

Sovereignty
In 2007, Romney criticized the United Nations, but defended "multinational and multilateral institutions".

Spending
The Cato Institute gave Romney a C on their Fiscal Policy Report Card for Governors. Cato writes that "he proposed modest increases to the budget and line-item vetoed millions of dollars each year only to have most of those vetoes overridden". (See page 26) His health care plan will cause "massive costs to taxpayers". The Club for Growth provided a somewhat favorable evaluation of Romney's record on spending.

In 2006, Romney criticized the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which has a present value cost of 22 trillion dollars, but did not outright oppose it. In 2006, he supported the No Child Left Behind act, which included a large increase in government education spending.

Taxes
In 1996, Romney attacked the Flat Tax proposed by Steve Forbes. As Governor, he increased fees by more than $200 million after facing a deficit. In 2003, he declined to endorse President Bush's tax cut proposal. Romney has pledged not to raise taxes as President. The Club for Growth describes his record on taxes as "mixed".

Character
Romney has been married since 1968.

Relevant Articles:
The Mitt Romney Deception
Mitt Romney On the Issues
Where Does Mitt Romney Stand?
Mitt Romney: Best Performance by an Actor in a Political Role
Mitt Romney's Swett Problem
Gov. Romney's universal health care program for Massachusetts includes taxpayer-funded abortions
Mitt Romney, in a 'Different Place' on Abortion
Mitt Romney on Abortion
Romney, a Second Amendment Killer?
Mitt Romney immigration position: can anyone figure it out?
Romney Shifts on Immigration, Contrasting With McCain
Mitt Romney on Immigration
Romney created 'gay' marriage, family groups say
The Missing Governor
Romney Care is a Sham
RomneyCare: Trying to Have It Both Ways
What's Wrong With RomneyCare?
Activists remember a different Romney
Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2006
Mitt Romney's Record on Economic Issues